Green, frugal, sustainable, simple, healthy, happy... No matter what we each call it, we come together here to support and learn from each other.

We are preserving our planet with our lifestyles. We are creating sustainable communities for our children. We are living the lives we want to live. Please join us!

--------------------

All articles here are written by Melinda Briana Epler (that's me!) unless otherwise noted. I'm a documentary filmmaker, writer, and brand experience designer - I've dedicated my life to living a sustainable lifestyle and helping others do the same. Please feel free to contact me if you have questions or thoughts for articles. Welcome!

Organic Gardening 101

About The Series

The Gardening 101 Series is about organic gardening and is based on many, many, many hours of reading and studying, and a great deal of quality time in our gardens. My goal is to take you step by step through the four-season growing process – from ordering seeds all the way to harvesting, and finally to preparing the soil for next year’s garden by planting winter and cover crops.

An important thing about learning to garden is to learn as you go. There is no need to know every aspect of gardening before you start. In my experience, it’s just fine to read one step ahead of what you need to be doing. In other words, it’s ok to order seeds before you know how to transplant the seedlings. Because you have several weeks after planting the seeds to learn how to do the next step!

If at any step in the gardening process you have a question, PLEASE ASK! I guarantee others are wondering the same thing. I’m not perfect, so I may miss a step or two, and I’m relying on you all to help me when I do. And if I don’t know the answer to a question, I’ll research and find out for you!

Note: I started this series at Elements In Time: Creating Edible Landscape. At the time I was a Master Gardener in Training. Since then, I’ve quit the Master Gardener program because I was fed up with their conventional gardening techniques – I received days of instructions about how to use pesticides and page after page of pesticide information! (If you’re still unsure about the use of pesticides, please see this important post.)

6 comments to Organic Gardening 101

[...] on gardening (and eco) topics along with excellent how to’s. Check out Melinda’s “How to grow an Organic Garden” series and be inspired! Fake Plastic Fish has taught me SO much about plastic. Beth is so [...]

I have really enjoyed your site and our family is starting our own garden next year. We have an acre and a half about a mile away. However, my question was how can we test our soil for other bad contaminants such as uranium. There was a active uranium plant years ago and my concern is the soil. The reports from the locals and officials say that soil is fine. Do you have any recommendations for our concerns?

[...] you love to eat. I always love those fresh peas, beans, tomatoes, and greens. Seattle Tilth and One Green Generation both have great resources for getting started. And apartment balconies… they must’ve [...]